Liverpool will struggle without sissoko. The gunners need to start with Adebyor and stop trying to make every goal "the perfect goal". With Eboue & Senderos back fit, it gives them a lot more options at the back

Liverpool are on a bit of a role, something like 5-6 wins. However, Arsenal are sure to be aware that anything other than 3 points may leave them with too much to do already. Does Adebayor get the nod over Van Persie? As someone said earlier the Togo striker is not afraid to score an ugly goal.

Some BBC facts:

ARSENAL and Liverpool may both be going well in the Champions League and have qualified for the quarter-finals of the League Cup, but the pair are well off the pace in the Premiership as they prepare to go head-to-head at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are second in the Premiership's "Last Six Current Form" table, despite last Sunday's shock defeat by West Ham and the much publicised touch-line spat between the managers. But they're defending an unbeaten home League record, and manager Arsene Wenger has not seen his side suffer back-to-back Premiership defeats in over nine months. The last five Premiership clashes between Arsenal and Liverpool have been won by the club playing at home. The Gunners prevailed 2-1 most recently in March, when an error by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard allowed Thierry Henry to score his second, and the winner, in a dramatic finish at Highbury.

LIVERPOOL notched a fifth successive win and a third clean sheet in a row in all competitions with Wednesday's 0-1 victory at Birmingham in the Carling Cup. They now make their first ever visit to the Emirates Stadium eager to add to successive home League victories over Aston Villa and Reading, but have not claimed nine points out of nine since closing last season with nine victories in a row.

The Reds' away form in the Premiership this season has been poor. They've managed just one point out of a possible 15 from an opening day 1-1 draw at newly promoted Sheffield United, and have not scored in four games on the road since. Indeed they are yet to net from open play on their League travels this season.

The Merseysiders have not taken maximum points away from Arsenal in six attempts and only once in eight visits. Titi Camara was on target in the 0-1 triumph on 13 February 2000.

REFEREE

Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)

SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

ARSENALClub statsFixturesGoing into the weekend: 6th 18 points(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premiership fixtures)

1. Chasing a sixth victory of this Premiership season, but the last three League games have resulted in a win, a draw and a defeat, in that order.

2. Lost one of the last eight in the Premier League (1-0, away to West Ham, last time out). The game at Upton Park is also the only occasion in the eight games when Arsenal have failed to score.

3. Not conceded more than a single goal in any League game this term.

4. Conceded just six League goals this season - that's one every two and half hours of Premiership football played, on average.

5. Hold 100% Premiership records when scoring first (won four of four) and when keeping clean sheets (won four of four).

6. Arsenal and Fulham have gained more points from losing positions in Premiership matches this season than any other clubs. Both have picked up six points from games in which they were behind. The Gunners showed their resilience by winning at Charlton and drawing at home to Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Everton.

7. Not lost successive Premiership matches in 21 games, since beaten away to Liverpool and home to Blackburn on 14 and 25 February, respectively.

8. Unbeaten in 12 home Premiership games. Won seven and drawn five at home since a 2-3 loss to West Ham on 1 February (won two and drawn three this season).

9. Arsenal are home to Newcastle, before they host Hamburg in the Champions League.

LIVERPOOLClub statsFixturesGoing into the weekend: 8th 17 points(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premiership fixtures)

SULKING Arsene Wenger has cancelled his usual Friday Press conference — for the first time in 10 years.

The Gunners boss is still refusing to talk after being charged with improper conduct by the FA.

Wenger stormed away from Upton Park without comment after his touchline bust-up with West Ham’s Alan Pardew during the 1-0 defeat. He also failed to speak to the media after the 1-0 Carling Cup win at Everton on Wednesday.

Now the moaning monsieur has extended his vow of silence and is not even talking to the club’s official website.

Today’s boycott will be the first time since Wenger took charge at Arsenal in 1996 he has not spoken before a big home match.

And club officials cannot guarantee their manager will speak after Sunday’s clash with Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.

As Wenger’s lips remained sealed, it was left to Fulham’s Chris Coleman and Watford’s Aidy Boothroyd to jump to the defence of feuding bosses.

Coleman insisted the FA must be careful not to take the passion out of football.

He said: “Fans want their managers to show passion.

“It would be impossible for me not to celebrate a goal. I’ve found myself standing three yards on to the pitch after we have scored and could not even tell you how I got there.

“What we saw at West Ham was a manager who was under pressure and another who was disappointed that a couple of decisions didn’t go his way. It was understandable.”

Coleman said that Manchester United chief Alex Ferguson was the one boss he would not like to upset.

He said: “The hardest manager in the Premiership? There is only one hard man — and he’s a Scot.”

Boothroyd believes the FA should stop wasting money charging bosses and use it where it matters.

He said: “They should spend more time on the grassroots and educating coaches — and stop messing about with small things.”

Gilberto says:

Quote

There were no problems with Mr Wenger and the players because the problem didn't involve the players. But the situation left us scared. We know the manager and we know that he is very polite and calm. Something very bad had happened to make him react like he did. After the game, Mr Wenger didn't talk to anyone. As it wasn't a problem involving the players, he decided not to discuss it with us.

"I have seen it on TV many times, and when West Ham scored Pardew came to our bench to celebrate, but in an offensive way. That made Wenger react how he did, and that is why he had to talk to Pardew about that celebration.

"He was p***ed off about the way he celebrated and, as i said, that was the reason he reacted that way. As I saw it on TV, Pardew said some words that he, as a manager, should have thought about before saying. He should have showed a little more respect. Of course, he could celebrate the goal, but not in the offensive way he did. That is what made Mr Wenger react."

Can it be that AW is simply embarrassed? I don't get it....the media didn't cause this. He was shunning them (on Sunday) long before they had written a word.

arsenal are going through a stage where they cant score but are making chance after chance. every goal has to be a thing of beauty, they need adebayor playing, he doesnt care if he scores with his head or his arse as long as it crosses the line. thierry, cesc etc need to realise that a goal is a goal wether its from 30 yards or 2yard own goal. i have a feeling some team is going to get a thrashing (as in 5-0) very soon. cant see it being liverpool but i do think we'll beat them 3-1

Mmmm. you're probably right O'Neill, and I can't see Wenger playing a more senior side as his outlook in the league cup has always been to experiment with the younger guys, something not many Premiership side would entertain.

A win over the "Pool" tomorrow would be enough for me, we need to get the league campaign underway before the others are out of sight

Surprisingly easy. A piss-poor Liverpool team were overturned with relative ease. Arsenal have played better in recent games and not won. I liked the Clichy-Gallas-Toure-Eboue back four. Fairly tight defensively with an attacking element down both flanks (even though it was the central defenders who scored). Good to see Henry rolling the sleeves up and getting stuck in - played the captain's part well. Again, Hleb and Fab spent much of the game weaving nice patterns - sometimes it works.

What is slightly annoying is that having won at Old Trafford and annihilated Liverpool, Arsenal are still 10 off the pace. No more losses to bottom half teams needed.